The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-06
r
8. 81. HoBsoN Agent
THE BASSETT CASE,
at
The Evidence of Both Sides
Concluded.
MRS. BASSETTS TESTIMONY.
Kate Bassett on the stand-The Case
Continued Until This Morning
Personal and General
RS. BAssErr's TESTIMONY

The question of law which was taken
under advisement by the Court Tues
day evening, as to the competency of
the first wife to testify in the case, was
decided yesterday morning. The Court
said that he was inclined to believe that
the defendant was endeavoring to
shield himself under technically;
that in his opinion bigamy was greater
crime against the wife than adultery,
and that the objection OF defendants
counsel should be oyerruled- "
Mrs. Bassett was again called to the
witness stand, and with considerable
nervous agitation testified that she had
had a conversation with Mr.. Bassett on
the 18th of August, 1884, IN Whlch ne
admitted having married Kate smith
at Logan. He, had left her place on
! Saturday, and returned on the follow.
ing Wednesday. Within the time OF
his absence he had bought witness
new dress. and had taken 1t to her upon
his return. When he went back after
this absence, he kissed her, and said ne
would like to have her act in such
way that he could think of her as he
had when he first married her. he
thought he had done wrong IN marry
ing Kate Smith at Logan. Mr.. Bassett
was in tears during that interview, ana
appeared to feel very badly. The VII
ness said she was not angry, but IN
INDUCED in fit OF weeping at the
thine. lF - .BOIg ,lT8u, 1850, 49,,
of the Mormon church; was born IN
Wales came here in the summer OF
O.-You knew that polygamY was a
tenet of the Mormon faith, did you not,
when you Joined the church,
A.-No, SIR
O.-You had talked with Mr.. Bassett
about it2 ..th
A.-Mr. Bassett was more thoroughly
posted than was. ,t'
Odd he ever ask your consent 70
his taking another wlter ~,
Ale knew [ would never i've Wlth
him if he had another wife.
O-HoW frequently did you talk to-
gether about this. ri ANA
Al decline to answer.
The Court instructed the witness tna'
the question was proper. and she re
pIied mot very often" Had never
seen ANYTHING to indicate that Mr.. BaS
sett and Kate Smith we're married; haC
no idea that there was anything
of that kind between them Wher
] Kate Smith visited US on the
18th of August. Had never seer
ANYTHING to indicate that they were
& married at any subsequent time. Inc
next conversation between us was helt
on the Friday night following the 17tt
of August; that was on Sunday. AT INT
Iast-named conversation Mr.. Basset
I said he thought he had done right II
marrying Kate Smith; he also sac
that he would do right by me ana III.
children; that / could please mysel
labout living with him. AAnotheT cen
yersation was held in the valley dous
in December, 1855.
that polygamy was tenet Oh the MOI
mon ;aif6 but did not believe in 1t.
Hare Mr.. Dickson asked if Mr.. Bas
set held any Office in the church in May
\ 1884. for the purpose OF showing tina
, Kate Smith could not have visited MI
of that time on church business. In
defense objected, and the Court sus
= '" Gontinuing, Mr.. Dickson asked
Were you in state OF mental olstres
at the time of your conversation Wit
Mr.. Bassett; were you crying at IN
timer #a.Et-E -
To Mr.. Sheeks-I told Mr.. Bassett
wonId make trouble for him If he eve
r married another woman.
After some other unimportant tes
t1mony the examination closed and u
u witness was excused.
Mr.. RawIins moved to nave the les
: timony of the witness strlcKeh oue y
the ground of incompetency, ana pro
ceeded to argue the proPosluon. II, %
was followed by Mr.. Dlckson, anu Ml
Sheeks closed. The motion was over
rnIed and Court adjourned for the moo
recess. ~,
afternoon. Mrs. Bassett was recalle
and said to Mr.. Dickson that Mr.. Ba;
set had told her that he had taken SUI
ner at Mr., Lewis in Logan the nlgt
before the conversation alluded &c
Mrs Lewis sent her regards to Wltne:
by defendant.
sett ever cease to live together as hu
bond and wife; old you ever separai
previous to the time OF this allege
plural marriage?
A long pause.
Ayes, sir.
Further, witness said she had ney.
told the officers about Mr.. Bassett
second se marriage, but she had told it
nT This closed the case for the prosecl
ton, and Mr.. Rawlins made a br =
opening, in which he stated that u
defense proposed to prove by eyIden
that Mr.. Bassett did not go to Log
at all during 1884, except on one oec
SION when he went on business, I
= SloI from the 18th to the 16
MAJ ut Kate Smith was e